U.S. patent application number 17/632203 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-08 for methods for capability signalling, wireless devices and network nodes.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Group Corporation. Invention is credited to Kare AGARDH, Erik BENGTSSON, Jose FLORDELIS, Fredrik RUSEK, Olof ZANDER, Kun ZHAO.
Application Number | 20220286170 17/632203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006419293 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220286170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FLORDELIS; Jose ; et
al. |
September 8, 2022 |
METHODS FOR CAPABILITY SIGNALLING, WIRELESS DEVICES AND NETWORK
NODES
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method, performed by a
wireless device, for capability signalling. The wireless device
comprises one or more antenna panels configured to communicate with
a network node. The method comprises obtaining a capability of at
least one of the antenna panels, wherein the capability comprises
at least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel,
RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability. The method comprises
transmitting, to the network node, control signalling indicative of
the obtained capability of the at least one antenna panel.
Inventors: |
FLORDELIS; Jose; (Lund,
SE) ; ZHAO; Kun; (Malmo, SE) ; AGARDH;
Kare; (Rydeback, SE) ; ZANDER; Olof; (Lund,
SE) ; BENGTSSON; Erik; (Lund, SE) ; RUSEK;
Fredrik; (Esloev, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Group Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006419293 |
Appl. No.: |
17/632203 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
July 3, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2020/068846 |
371 Date: |
February 1, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/063 20130101;
H04W 72/048 20130101; H04L 1/0025 20130101; H04L 5/0096 20130101;
H04B 7/0617 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/06 20060101
H04B007/06; H04L 5/00 20060101 H04L005/00; H04L 1/00 20060101
H04L001/00; H04W 72/04 20060101 H04W072/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 15, 2019 |
SE |
1950935-5 |
Claims
1. A method, performed at a wireless device, for capability
signalling, wherein the wireless device comprises one or more
antenna panels configured to communicate with a network node, the
method comprising: obtaining a capability of at least one of the
antenna panels, wherein the capability comprises at least one of: a
receive-only panel (ROP) capability, a transmit-only panel (TOP)
capability, a receive-and-transmit panel (RTP) capability and a
dynamic RTP capability; and transmitting, to the network node,
control signalling indicative of the obtained capability of the at
least one antenna panel.
2. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising:
receiving, from the network node, control signalling indicative of
one or more antenna panels to be activated; and activating the one
or more panels indicated by the control signalling received.
3. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising:
communicating, between the wireless device and the network node,
control signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna
panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to a
second mode, wherein the first mode comprises one of: a ROP mode, a
TOP mode, a RTP mode and a deactivate mode, wherein the second mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, a RTP mode and a
deactivate mode; and switching the indicated antenna panel from the
first mode to the second mode.
4. The method according to claim 2, the method comprising:
establishing a beam pair for uplink and downlink in response to the
switching and/or in response to the activating.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating, between
the wireless device and the network node, control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises
receiving from the network node, control signalling instructing the
wireless device to switch the one antenna panel from the first mode
to the second mode.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating, between
the wireless device and the network node, control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises
transmitting, to the network node, control signalling indicating to
the network node that the wireless device intends to switch the one
antenna panel from the first mode to the second mode.
7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the control signalling
indicative of switching indicates a time period and wherein the
method comprises performing an additional switching of the one
antenna panel in response to expiry of the time period.
8. A method, performed at a network node, wherein the network node
is configured to communicate with a wireless device via one or more
antenna panels of the wireless device, the method comprising:
receiving, from the wireless device, control signalling indicative
of a capability, the capability comprising at least one of: a
receive-only panel capability, a transmit-only panel (TOP)
capability, a receive-and-transmit panel (RTP) capability and a
dynamic RTP capability; and scheduling transmission of the wireless
device based on the capability indicated by the received control
signalling.
9. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising:
selecting, based on the capability indicated, one or more antenna
panels to activate; and transmitting, to the wireless device,
control signalling indicative of the selected one or more antenna
panels.
10. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising:
communicating, between the wireless device and the network node,
control signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna
panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to a
second mode, wherein the first mode comprises one of: a ROP mode, a
TOP mode, a RTP mode and a deactivate mode, wherein the second mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, a RTP mode and a
deactivate mode.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein communicating,
between the wireless device and the network node, the control
signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels
comprises transmitting to the wireless device, control signalling
instructing the wireless device to switch the indicated antenna
panel having a dynamic RTP capability from the first mode to the
second mode.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein communicating,
between the wireless device and the network node, the control
signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels
comprises receiving, from the wireless device, control signalling
indicating to the network node that the wireless device intends to
switch the one antenna panel from the first mode to the second
mode.
13. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising:
selecting, based on the capability indicated and received quality
metrics per antenna panels, one or more antenna panels for
communication.
14. The method according to claim 8, wherein scheduling
transmission of the wireless device based on the capability
indicated by the received control signalling comprises scheduling
an uplink transmission for an antenna panel having at least one of:
the TOP capability, the RTP capability and the dynamic RTP
capability.
15. The method according to claim 8, wherein scheduling
transmission of the wireless device based on the capability
indicated by the received control signalling comprises scheduling a
downlink transmission for an antenna panel having at least one of:
the ROP capability, the RTP capability and the dynamic RTP
capability.
16. A wireless device comprising a memory module, a processor
module, and a wireless interface, wherein the wireless device is
configured to perform the method of claim 1.
17. A network node comprising a memory module, a processor module,
and a wireless interface, wherein the network node is configured to
perform the method of claim 8.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signalling is
further indicative of a panel identifier.
19. The method of claim 8, wherein the control signalling is
further indicative of a panel identifier.
Description
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to the field of wireless
communications. The present disclosure relates to methods for
capability signalling, related network nodes and wireless
devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A wireless device (for example a user equipment, UE) may
have one or more antenna panels, e.g., one at its back, one in the
front, and some at the sides. An antenna panel is a collection of
antennas capable of transmitting with a single spatial filter (so
called a beam), in either one or two polarizations, depending on
the UE capability. Further, only a single antenna panel per UE can
be used for transmission at all times, but multiple panels can be
activated. An activated panel is an antenna panel that can be
selected for transmission by the network node (for example gNB),
and that should be able to transmit with a relatively short time
delay (e.g. tens of .mu.s). An antenna panel that is de-activated
may have larger delay before becoming operational.
[0003] Wireless device implementations vary from vendor to vendor.
In some implementations, due to hardware cost, antenna panels at
the wireless device can only receive signals but are unable to
transmit signals. In other cases, it could be the opposite.
[0004] Certain applications show extreme asymmetries in volume of
downlink/uplink, DL/UL, traffic, and in those cases, an antenna
panel may not need to be capable of both UL and DL traffic. An
example where DL traffic is much higher than UL traffic is
cloud-gaming services, where UL data is limited to the pad-inputs,
but the DL data consists of everything that should be displayed to
the screen. Converting this into numbers, a professional gamer may
for example provide 2-3 instructions/s, so that a net UL data rate
would be in the order of 20-30 bits/s (with 10 bit encoding per
instruction), while DL data in 4K-resolution and 120 FPS would give
a compressed net data rate of 20-30 Mbit/s.
[0005] An example where there is much more UL traffic than DL
traffic is live broadcast of public events, such as football games.
A professional camera should upload 4K-resolution and 120 FPS,
amounting to several Gbit/s (video games may often be more
efficiently compressed than video recordings). Meanwhile, the DL
data consists of minor control data, such as "zoom in", "zoom out",
etc.
SUMMARY
[0006] As illustrated, an antenna panel may not have the capability
to transmit signals, but merely to receive signals (or vice versa),
e.g. in various scenarios. The network node selection of antenna
panel for activation does not take into account the capability of
the respective antenna panel. Due to implementation, it can be
foreseen that some wireless devices may be equipped with antenna
panels for increased receive (or transmit) quality. For example,
for such antenna panels, a need still exists for selecting the
optimal beam, which means that the standard beam sweep procedure
needs to be maintained.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for wireless devices, network
nodes, and methods for capability signalling, which address,
mitigate, or alleviate the shortcomings existing and enable an
improved selection of one or more antenna panels to be used by the
wireless device in communication with a network node based on the
capability of the antenna panel.
[0008] The present disclosure provides a method, performed at a
wireless device, for capability signalling. The wireless device
comprises one or more antenna panels configured to communicate with
a network node. The method comprises obtaining a capability of at
least one of the antenna panels. The capability comprises at least
one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a transmit-only
panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel, RTP,
capability and a dynamic RTP capability. The method comprises
transmitting, to the network node, control signalling indicative of
the obtained capability of the at least one antenna panel.
[0009] Further, a wireless device is provided, the wireless device
comprising: a memory circuitry, a processor circuitry, and a
wireless interface. The wireless device is configured to perform
any of the methods disclosed herein.
[0010] The present disclosure enables the wireless device to adapt
the selection of the antenna panels to the various radio
conditions, as the wireless device is capable of exploiting antenna
panels which are capable of transmission only and/or reception only
to improve transmission and/or reception respectively. This may
lead to an improved radio performance (e.g. in terms of
interference, and/or Maximum Permissible Exposure) at the wireless
device and possibly power savings. This also allows the wireless
device to have simplified architecture and design, which reduces
costs.
[0011] The present disclosure provides a method performed at a
network node. The method comprises receiving, from the wireless
device, control signalling indicative of a capability, the
capability comprising at least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP,
capability, a transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP
capability. The method comprises scheduling transmission of the
wireless device based on the capability indicated by the received
control signalling.
[0012] Further, a network node is provided, the network node
comprising: a memory circuitry, a processor circuitry, and a
wireless interface, wherein the network node is configured to
perform any of the methods.
[0013] The disclosed network node can allow the wireless device to
enhance the radio performance of the wireless device (e.g. in terms
of interference, and/or Maximum Permissible Exposure) by exploiting
knowledge about antenna panels which have e.g. receive only and/or
transmit only capabilities. This also allows the network node to
improve the scheduling of communications by the wireless device
which benefits from a simplified architecture and design, and
reduced costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other features and advantages of the present
disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments
thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless
communication system comprising an exemplary network node and an
exemplary wireless device according to this disclosure,
[0016] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example antenna panel
with a receive-only panel capability according to this
disclosure,
[0017] FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating example antenna panels
according to this disclosure,
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow-chart illustrating an exemplary method,
performed by a wireless device node, for capability signalling
according to this disclosure,
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating an exemplary method,
performed by a network node of a wireless communication system
according to this disclosure,
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless
device according to this disclosure,
[0021] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network
node according to this disclosure, and
[0022] FIG. 6 is a signalling diagram illustrating an exemplary
signalling between an exemplary network node and an exemplary
wireless device according to this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Various exemplary embodiments and details are described
hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should
be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that
elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like
reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted
that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of
the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description
of the disclosure or as a limitation on the scope of the
disclosure. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have
all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage
described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not
necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any
other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so
explicitly described.
[0024] The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and
they merely show details which aid understanding the disclosure,
while other details have been left out. Throughout, the same
reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding
parts.
[0025] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless
communication system 1 comprising an exemplary network node 400 and
an exemplary wireless device 300 according to this disclosure.
[0026] As discussed in detail herein, the present disclosure
relates to a wireless communication system 1 comprising a cellular
system, e.g. a 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
wireless communication system, e.g. millimetre wave communication.
The wireless communication system 1 comprises a wireless device 300
and/or a network node 400.
[0027] A network node disclosed herein refers to radio network
node, and/or a radio access network node operating in the radio
access network, such as a base station, an evolved Node B, eNB,
gNB.
[0028] The wireless communication system 1 described herein may
comprise one or more wireless devices 300, 300A, and/or one or more
network nodes 400, such as one or more of: a base station, an eNB,
a gNB and/or an access point.
[0029] A wireless device may refer to as a mobile device and/or a
user equipment, UE.
[0030] The wireless device 300, 300A may be configured to
communicate with the network node 400 via a wireless link (or radio
access link) 10, 10A.
[0031] In 3GPP, a set of antennas to/from which a beam is
directed/radiated can be declared as an antenna panel. An antenna
panel may comprise a collection of antenna elements. An antenna
panel can be in two activation modes, either active or deactivated.
The network node, e.g. gNB, can change the activation mode of every
panel. A maximum transition time delay between deactivated and
active mode may be specified. Multiple panels can be active at the
same time. Only a single antenna panel may be used for transmission
at every time instant in one or more example embodiments. An
antenna panel identifier may be introduced and can be coupled to
the Sounding Reference Signal (SRS)-resource set used for that
antenna panel. The network node, gNB, can change which antenna
panel should be used for transmission among the active panels. A
maximum delay associated with such change may be specified.
[0032] For wireless devices comprising antenna panels only capable
of either receiving or transmitting, but not both, the network node
may require an antenna panel to transmit even if the antenna panel
has a receive only capability, which is not optimal. In other
words, an antenna panel that can only receive, may at any time be
requested by the network node to start transmitting. Further, when
antenna panels are declared via their SRS-resource set,
receive-only antenna panels cannot be declared to the network node,
gNB, since SRSs are UL reference symbols. It is to be noted that in
such example, the antenna panel cannot send anything, so it cannot
declare itself to the network node.
[0033] An antenna panel with receive only feature or with transmit
only features can save cost. In addition to hardware limitations,
an antenna panel can behave as transmitter-only or receiver-only
due to network configuration or due to a UE request. For example:
when the user body is getting close to one antenna panel, as
detected by for example a proximity sensor, the wireless device may
determine to lower or turn off a transmit power of an antenna panel
to meet the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) requirement from
regulators (e.g. Specific Absorption Rate, SAR, and/or power
density).
[0034] Conventionally, one can simply switch to another antenna
panel. However, this may be detrimental. For example, the new
antenna panel may suffer larger path loss than the original antenna
panel since it points to a different direction. Also, there may be
a lot of overhead since there commonly is a delay to connect a new
antenna panel into a network node. As an alternative, only the UL
may be switched to another antenna panel, but the same DL antenna
panel may be kept (because there is no MPE issue in DL), which is
illustrated in FIG. 1B. Therefore, one antenna panel can be
configured as a receive only panel and the other antenna panel can
be configured as transmit only panel within a certain period of
time. For example, the other antenna panel may need to switch to
TOP within a certain period of time, and/or the other antenna panel
may be configured to be in a TOP mode for a certain period of time.
An example is illustrated in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B is a diagram
illustrating an example antenna panel according to this disclosure.
The wireless device 300 is configured to communicate with network
node 400. The wireless device 300 uses an antenna panel configured
as a receive only panel which cannot transmit.
[0035] It may also be envisaged that the wireless device may have
DL and UL beam pairs which are different as illustrated in FIG. 1C.
FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an example antenna panel
according to this disclosure. The wireless device 300 is configured
to communicate with network node 400. There is a need for the
network node realize this situation and to be configured with
proper signaling.
[0036] Other scenarios, for example to reduce the interference in
certain directions, can also benefit from setting an antenna panel
to transmit or receive only.
[0037] In other words, it may be an assumption from the network
node that an antenna panel selected for transmission should be used
both for reception and transmission. However, a transmit-only
antenna panel cannot perform reception.
[0038] The present disclosure provides methods that can be
seamlessly incorporated into 3GPP's NR specification that allows
for receive- and transmit-only antenna panels to be considered by
the network node.
[0039] The present disclosure proposes to improve a selection of
antenna panels of the wireless device by the network node based on
the received capability of antenna panel and communicating the
selection to the wireless device which is then capable of
activating the appropriate antenna panels to be used for
communication. The capability may be seen as a communication
feature of an antenna panel, such as the ability to receive only
(e.g. a receive-only panel, ROP), to transmit only (e.g. a
transmit-only panel, TOP), or to receive-and-transmit (e.g. a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP), or to dynamically switch between
ROP, TOP and RTP.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method 100 for
capability signalling according to the disclosure. The method 100
is performed at a wireless device (e.g. the wireless device
disclosed herein, e.g. wireless device 300 of FIGS. 1A-C and 4).
The wireless device comprises one or more antenna panels configured
to communicate with a network node (e.g. the network node disclosed
herein, such as network node 400 of FIGS. 1A-C, and 5). For
example, the wireless device comprises a plurality of antenna
panels.
[0041] The method 100 comprises obtaining S102 a capability of at
least one of the antenna panels. For example, obtaining S102 a
capability of at least one of the antenna panels comprises
obtaining, from a memory circuitry of the wireless device, the
capability of the at least one of the antenna panels. For example,
the wireless device can retrieve the capability of at least one of
the one or more antenna panels from the memory circuitry or of each
of the one or more antenna panels. The capability comprises at
least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel,
RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability. The capability may be
seen as a communication feature of an antenna panel, such as the
ability to only receive, to only transmit, or to
receive-and-transmit, or to dynamically switch between ROP, TOP and
RTP. In other words, the capability indicates whether an antenna
panel is capable of receive-only, transmit-only,
receive-and-transmit, and/or to dynamically switch between any of
the ROP, TOP, RTP modes. The dynamic RTP capability indicates that
the antenna panel has a dynamic capability that may switch between
Rx only, Tx only and Rx-and-tx mode. For example, a ROP or a TOP is
an antenna panel capable of unidirectional communication. Obtaining
the capability of an antenna panel may comprise obtaining an
indicator indicative of the capability of the antenna panel.
[0042] The method 100 comprises transmitting S104, to the network
node, control signalling indicative of the obtained capability of
the at least one antenna panel. For example, transmitting S104
comprises declaring to the network node the obtained capability via
control signalling in terms of one or more of ROP, TOP, RTP, and
dynamic RTP. For example, the control signalling may comprise one
or more control signals/messages indicative of the obtained
capability. For example, the one or more control signals/messages
indicative of the obtained capability comprises one or more
indicators representative of the capability of antenna panel in
terms of any one or more of ROP, TOP, RTP, and dynamic RTP. For
example, capability reporting may indicate the obtained capability.
For example, during capability reporting, the wireless device can
report a presence of a number of ROPs (e.g. which can be active or
deactivated, but cannot be requested to transmit). For example, the
wireless device may transmit a beam candidate reporting for each
ROP or at least one ROP, which provides the network node with
information about the receive quality of corresponding ROP. The
wireless device may activate a ROP to increase the number of
spatial streams in the DL, or to increase the DL signal to noise
ratio, SNR.
[0043] For example, during capability reporting, the wireless
device can report presence of a number of TOPs (e.g. which can be
active or deactivated, but cannot be requested to receive). For
example, in some situations for TOPs, the notion of beam
correspondence may no longer apply, and an UL beam sweep is
necessary from each TOP. In some situations, beam correspondence
may apply, e.g., when a TOP is quasi-co-located with a ROP, at
least to some degree. For example, in case a TOP is selected for
transmission, the wireless device may need to use another antenna
panel for reception. The wireless device may activate another
antenna panel to add additional spatial streams, to transmit the
only UL streams (assuming that the antenna panel used for reception
is not transmitting any UL data), and/or to improve the performance
of the streams transmitted from the antenna panel that is used for
reception. The wireless device may activate another antenna panel
in response to receiving control signaling S106 or based on its own
decision. It may be envisaged that the wireless device may operate
in a certain frequency band that restricts operations to transmit
only or receive only (e.g. supplementary downlink band SDL,
supplementary up-link band SUL). The wireless device may declare a
multiband antenna panel as ROP for one frequency band and as TOP
for another frequency band.
[0044] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises
receiving S106, from the network node, control signalling
indicative of one or more antenna panels to be activated. For
example, the wireless device may receive from the network node
control signalling indicative of one or more antenna panels to be
activated by the wireless device. In one or more example methods,
the method 100 comprises activating S108 the one or more panels
indicated by the control signalling received. For example, the
wireless device may activate the one or more antenna panels
according to the control signalling indicative of one or more
antenna panels to be activated. The control signalling indicative
of one or more antenna panels to be activated may comprise one or
more control signals/messages indicative of the one or more antenna
panels to be activated. For example, the control signals/messages
may comprise one or more antenna panel identifier corresponding to
the one or more antenna panels to be activated.
[0045] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises
communicating S110, between the wireless device and the network
node, control signalling indicative of switching of one of the
antenna panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to
a second mode. In one or more example methods, the first mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, a RTP mode and a
deactivate mode, wherein the second mode comprises one of: a ROP
mode, a TOP mode, RTP mode and a deactivate mode. For example, the
first mode and the second mode are different modes. For example,
the control signalling may indicate to switch from ROP mode to RTP
mode or vice-versa. RTP mode may be seen as dual mode while ROP and
TOP may be seen as single mode. For example, control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels having the
dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to a second mode can
comprise one or more control signals/messages indicative of
switching of one of the antenna panels having a dynamic RTP
capability from a first mode to a second mode. For example, one or
more control signals/messages indicative of switching of one of the
antenna panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to
a second mode can comprise one or more switching indicators
associated with respective panel identifiers for the antenna panels
indicated for switching from the first mode to the second mode. In
one or more example methods, communicating S110, between the
wireless device and the network node, control signalling indicative
of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises receiving S110A
from the network node, control signalling instructing the wireless
device to switch the one antenna panel from the first mode to the
second mode. In other words, the wireless device may be indicated
to switch mode by the network node, e.g. due to radio conditions,
for a given antenna panel. For example, the network node may
transmit to the wireless device control signalling indicating that
the current panel is to be switched from an RTP mode to a ROP/TOP
mode because the network node had received control signalling
indicative of the current panel having a dynamic RTP capability
transmitted in S104. For example, the wireless device may need to
establish an alternative beam pair for UL/DL. For example, the
control signalling received in S110A may be used by the wireless
device to reset an antenna panel from a TOP or ROP mode to a RTP
mode (e.g. UL&DL capable) when the antenna panel has a dynamic
RTP capability. For example, the wireless device may receive the
control signalling of S110A in SAR scenario to reduce transmit
power, and this may be triggered by the network node, gNB.
[0046] In one or more example methods, communicating S110, between
the wireless device and the network node, control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises
transmitting S110B, to the network node, control signalling
indicating to the network node that the wireless device intends to
switch the one antenna panel from the first mode to the second
mode. A signalling transmitted from UE to gNB that the current
panel will be switched to a ROP/TOP mode, additional beam pair for
UL/DL needs to be established. A signalling from UE to gNB to reset
the TOP/ROP panel back to a UL&DL capable panel.
[0047] In one or more example methods, the method 100 may comprise
transmitting to the network node control signalling indicative of
an activation of an antenna panel (e.g., UE-initiated panel
activation).
[0048] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises
switching S112 the indicated antenna panel from the first mode to
the second mode.
[0049] In one or more example methods, the method 100 comprises
establishing S114 a beam pair for uplink and downlink in response
to the switching S112 and/or in response to the activating S108.
For example, after switching S112 an antenna panel from a first
mode to a second mode, there may be a need for establishing a new
beam pair for uplink and downlink. For example, after activating
S108 an antenna panel, there may be a need for establishing a new
beam pair for uplink and downlink.
[0050] In one or more example methods, the control signalling
indicates a time period. The time period may indicate for how long
an activation and/or an indicated second mode is valid. In one or
more example methods, the method 100 comprises performing an
additional switching of the one antenna panel in response to expiry
of the time period. For example, an antenna panel set to be in
TOP/ROP mode can be reset after certain time period indicated in
the control signalling. The time period can be included in the
control signalling communicated in S110. The additional switching
may be from any of TOP mode, ROP mode, RTP mode, and deactivate
mode to any of TOP mode, ROP mode, RTP mode and deactivate
mode.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method 200
according to the disclosure. The method 200 is performed at a
network node (such as a network node disclosed herein, e.g. network
node 400 of FIGS. 1A-C and 5-6). The network node is configured to
communicate with a wireless device via one or more antenna panels
of the wireless device (e.g. the wireless device disclosed
herein).
[0052] The method 200 comprises receiving S202, from the wireless
device, control signalling indicative of a capability. The
capability comprises at least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP,
capability, a transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP
capability. For example, a ROP capability and a TOP capability are
for unidirectional communication. In other words, the capability
indicates whether an antenna panel is capable of receive-only,
transmit-only, receive-and-transmit, and/or to dynamically switch
between any of the ROP, TOP, RTP modes. In one or more example
methods, the control signalling comprises one or more control
signals/messages which may comprises one or more indicators
representative of the capability of antenna panel in terms of any
one or more of ROP, TOP, RTP, and dynamic RTP. For example, the
control signalling indicative of the capability may be received via
capability reporting. For example, the control signalling
indicative of the capability is transmitted by the wireless device
in S104 of FIG. 2.
[0053] The method 200 comprises scheduling S204 transmission of the
wireless device (or communication of the wireless device, e.g.
transmission and/or reception of the wireless device) based on the
capability indicated by the received control signalling (of S104 of
FIG. 2 or S202 of FIG. 3).
[0054] In one or more example methods, the method 200 comprises
selecting S206, based on the capability indicated, one or more
antenna panels to activate. In one or more example methods, the
method 200 comprises selecting S210, based on the capability
indicated and received quality metrics per antenna panels, one or
more antenna panels for communication. For example, the network
node selects the one or more antenna panels based on the capability
in terms of ROP, ROP, RTP and/or dynamic RTP and based on a
reference signal for the received quality metrics per panel (e.g.
RSRP value per panel, SNR/SINR, RSRQ per panel reported by the
wireless device). For example, the network node selects the one or
more antenna panels based on the capability in terms of ROP, ROP,
RTP and/or dynamic RTP and based on an indication from the wireless
device that the wireless device transmissions from an antenna panel
may be close to a pre-specified Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)
limits.
[0055] In one or more example methods, the method 200 comprises
transmitting S207, to the wireless device, control signalling
indicative of the selected one or more antenna panels. For example,
the control signalling indicative of control signalling indicative
of switching of one of the antenna panels is received by the
wireless device in S106 of FIG. 2. The control signalling
indicative of the selected one or more antenna panels may comprise
one or more control signals/messages indicative of the one or more
antenna panels selected which the wireless device may activate. For
example, the control signals/messages may comprise one or more
antenna panel identifier corresponding to the one or more antenna
panels selected.
[0056] In one or more example methods, the method 200 comprises
communicating S208, between the wireless device and the network
node, control signalling indicative of switching of one of the
antenna panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to
a second mode. In one or more example methods, the first mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, RTP mode and a deactivate
mode. In one or more example methods, the second mode comprises one
of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, RTP mode and a deactivate mode. For
example, the control signalling indicative of control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels is
communicated between the wireless device and the network node in
S110 of FIG. 2. For example, the control signalling may indicate to
switch from ROP mode to RTP mode or vice-versa.
[0057] RTP mode may be seen as dual mode while ROP and TOP may be
seen as single mode. For example, control signalling indicative of
switching of one of the antenna panels having the dynamic RTP
capability from a first mode to a second mode can comprises one or
more control signals/messages indicative of switching of one of the
antenna panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to
a second mode. For example, one or more control signals/messages
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels having a
dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to a second mode can
comprise one or more switching indicators associated with
respective panel identifiers for the antenna panels indicated for
switching from the first mode to the second mode.
[0058] In one or more example methods, communicating S208, between
the wireless device and the network node, the control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises
transmitting S208A, to the wireless device, control signalling
instructing the wireless device to switch the indicated antenna
panel having a dynamic RTP capability from the first mode to the
second mode. For example, the control signalling indicative of
control signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna
panels is received by the wireless device in S110A of FIG. 2.
[0059] In one or more example methods, communicating S208, between
the wireless device and the network node, control signalling
indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises
receiving S208B, from the wireless device, control signalling
indicating to the network node that the wireless device intends to
switch the one antenna panel from the first mode to the second
mode. For example, the control signalling indicative of control
signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels is
transmitted by the wireless device in S110B of FIG. 2.
[0060] In one or more example methods, scheduling S204 transmission
of the wireless device based on the capability indicated by the
received control signalling comprises scheduling S204A an uplink
transmission for an antenna panel having at least one of: the TOP
capability, the RTP capability and the dynamic RTP capability.
[0061] In one or more example methods, scheduling S204 transmission
of the wireless device based on the capability indicated by the
received control signalling comprises scheduling S204B a downlink
transmission for an antenna panel having at least one of: the ROP
capability, the RTP capability and the dynamic RTP capability.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless device
300 according to the disclosure. The wireless device 300 comprises
a memory circuitry 303, a processor circuitry 302, and a wireless
interface 301. The wireless device 300 may be configured to perform
any of the methods disclosed in FIG. 2.
[0063] A wireless device 300 may have one or more antenna panels.
Typically, the wireless device 300 comprises a plurality of antenna
panels. An antenna panel activated (even in idle) consumes power,
and it is therefore needed to reduce the power consumption while
still maintaining the radio performance of the wireless device. An
antenna panel may comprise e.g. a single array of antennas or
multiple arrays of antennas. It is to be noted that the antenna
panel disclosed herein may for example refer to a hardware antenna
module or a logic structure (e.g. logic element, and/or software
module) associated with a hardware antenna module. In other words,
an antenna panel may be seen as a logical device that transmits one
corresponding beam in one or more embodiments. In contrast, in one
or more embodiments, the antenna panel may be seen a physical
device that may transmit several beams.
[0064] At the wireless device, a downlink (DL) beam corresponds to
a receive (Rx) beam while an UL beam corresponds to a transmit (Tx)
beam.
[0065] At the network node, when the network node is configured to
communicate with the wireless device using a set of beams, a DL
beam corresponds to a transmit (Tx) beam while an UL beam
corresponds to a receive (Rx) beam.
[0066] The wireless device 300 is configured to communicate with a
network node, such as the network node disclosed herein, using a
wireless communication system. The wireless interface 301 is
configured for wireless communications via a wireless communication
system, such as a 3GPP system, such as a 3GPP system supporting
millimetre-wave communications.
[0067] The wireless interface 301 comprises one or more antenna
panels including a first antenna panel 301A and optionally a second
antenna panel 301B, wherein the first antenna panel 301A
and/optionally the second antenna panel 301B are configured to
communicate, with a network node. The first antenna panel 301A may
have a capability which may be any type: a receive-only panel, ROP,
capability, a transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP
capability. The second antenna panel 301B may have a capability
which may be any type: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel,
RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability.
[0068] The wireless device 300 is configured to obtain, e.g. via
the processor circuitry 302 from the memory circuitry 303, a
capability of at least one of the antenna panels. The capability
comprises at least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability , a receive-and-transmit
panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability.
[0069] The wireless device 300 is configured to transmit, via the
wireless interface 301, to the network node, control signalling
indicative of the obtained capability of the at least one antenna
panel.
[0070] The processor circuitry 302 is optionally configured to
perform any of the operations disclosed in FIG. 2 (e.g. S106, S108,
S110, S110A, S110B, S112, S114). The operations of the wireless
device 300 may be embodied in the form of executable logic routines
(e.g., lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are stored on a
non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., the memory circuitry
303) and are executed by the processor circuitry 302.
[0071] Furthermore, the operations of the wireless device 300 may
be considered a method that the wireless circuitry is configured to
carry out. Also, while the described functions and operations may
be implemented in software, such functionality may as well be
carried out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination
of hardware, firmware and/or software.
[0072] The memory circuitry 303 may be one or more of a buffer, a
flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a
non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other
suitable device. In a typical arrangement, the memory circuitry 303
may include a non-volatile memory for long term data storage and a
volatile memory that functions as system memory for the processor
circuitry 303. The memory circuitry 303 may exchange data with the
processor circuitry 302 over a data bus. Control lines and an
address bus between the memory circuitry 303 and the processor
circuitry 302 also may be present (not shown in FIG. 4). The memory
circuitry 303 is considered a non-transitory computer readable
medium.
[0073] The memory circuitry 303 may be configured to store the
capability of the antenna panels optionally associated with
corresponding panel identifier(s).
[0074] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an exemplary network node
400 according to the disclosure. The network node 400 comprises a
wireless interface 401, a processor circuitry 402, and a memory
circuitry 403. The network node 400 may be configured to perform
any of the methods disclosed in FIG. 3.
[0075] The network node 400 is configured to communicate with a
wireless device, such as the wireless device disclosed herein,
using a wireless communication system. The wireless interface 401
is configured for wireless communications via a wireless
communication system, such as a 3GPP system, such as supporting
millimetre wave communications.
[0076] The wireless interface 401 may comprise one or more antenna
panels including antenna panel 401A. The network node 400 is
optionally configured to communicate (via the wireless interface
401), using a set of beams (e.g. radiated by 401A), with a wireless
device. The network node 400 is optionally configured to
communicate (via the wireless interface 401), using an
omnidirectional antenna with a wireless device.
[0077] The network node 400 is configured to receive, via the
wireless interface 401 and/or the processor circuitry 402, from the
wireless device, control signalling indicative of a capability, the
capability comprising at least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP,
capability, a transmit-only panel, TOP, capability , a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP
capability.
[0078] The network node 400 is configured to schedule, via the
processor circuitry 402, transmission of the wireless device based
on the capability indicated by the received control signalling.
[0079] The processor circuitry 402 is optionally configured to
perform any of the operations disclosed in FIG. 3 (e.g. S204A,
S204B, S206, S207, S208, S208A, S208B, S210). The operations of the
network node 400 may be embodied in the form of executable logic
routines (e.g., lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are
stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., the
memory circuitry 403) and are executed by the processor circuitry
402.
[0080] Furthermore, the operations of the network node 400 may be
considered a method that the network node is configured to carry
out. Also, while the described functions and operations may be
implemented in software, such functionality may as well be carried
out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination of
hardware, firmware and/or software.
[0081] The memory circuitry 403 may be one or more of a buffer, a
flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a
non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other
suitable device. In a typical arrangement, the memory circuitry 403
may include a non-volatile memory for long term data storage and a
volatile memory that functions as system memory for the processor
circuitry 403. The memory circuitry 403 may exchange data with the
processor circuitry 402 over a data bus. Control lines and an
address bus between the memory circuitry 403 and the processor
circuitry 402 also may be present (not shown in FIG. 5). The memory
circuitry 403 is considered a non-transitory computer readable
medium.
[0082] FIG. 6 is a signalling diagram 500 illustrating an exemplary
signalling between an exemplary network node 400 and an exemplary
wireless device 300 according to this disclosure.
[0083] The wireless device 300 transmits to the network node 400
control signalling 502 indicative of a capability of the at least
one antenna panel in terms of at least one of: a receive-only
panel, ROP, capability, a transmit-only panel, TOP, capability , a
receive-and-transmit panel, RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP
capability.
[0084] The network node 400 may determine which antenna panel is to
be activated as a ROP, TOP, or RTP based on 502 and may respond by
transmitting control signalling 504 indicative of one or more
antenna panels to be activated.
[0085] Upon receipt, the wireless device 300 may activate the one
or more panels indicated by the control signalling 504
received.
[0086] Optionally, the wireless device 300 may communicate, between
the wireless device 300 and the network node 500, control
signalling indicative of switching of one of the antenna panels
having a dynamic RTP capability from a first mode to a second mode,
wherein the first mode comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode,
and a RTP mode and a deactivate mode, wherein the second mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, a RTP mode and a
deactivate mode. For this, the wireless device 300 may receive
control signalling 508 instructing the wireless device 300 to
switch the one antenna panel from the first mode to the second mode
and/or or transmit control signalling 506 indicating to the network
node 500 that the wireless device 300 intends to switch the one
antenna panel from the first mode to the second mode.
[0087] Upon such communication, the wireless device 300 may switch
the indicated antenna panel in 508 and/or 506 from the first mode
to the second mode.
[0088] Embodiments of methods and products (network node and
wireless device) according to the disclosure are set out in the
following items:
Item 1. A method, performed at a wireless device, for capability
signalling, wherein the wireless device comprises one or more
antenna panels configured to communicate with a network node, the
method comprising: [0089] obtaining (S102) a capability of at least
one of the antenna panels, wherein the capability comprises at
least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel,
RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability; and [0090]
transmitting (S104), to the network node, control signalling
indicative of the obtained capability of the at least one antenna
panel. Item 2. The method according to item 1, the method
comprising: [0091] receiving (S106), from the network node, control
signalling indicative of one or more antenna panels to be
activated; and [0092] activating (S108) the one or more panels
indicated by the control signalling received. Item 3. The method
according to any of the previous items, the method comprising:
[0093] communicating (S110), between the wireless device and the
network node, control signalling indicative of switching of one of
the antenna panels having a dynamic RTP capability from a first
mode to a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises one of: a
ROP mode, a TOP mode, and RTP mode, wherein the second mode
comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, and RTP mode; and [0094]
switching (S112) the indicated antenna panel from the first mode to
the second mode. Item 4. The method according to any of items 2-3,
the method comprising: [0095] establishing (S114) a beam pair for
uplink and downlink in response to the switching (S112) and/or in
response to the activating (S108). Item 5. The method according to
any of items 3-4, wherein communicating (S110), between the
wireless device and the network node, control signalling indicative
of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises receiving
(S110A) from the network node, control signalling instructing the
wireless device to switch the one antenna panel from the first mode
to the second mode. Item 6. The method according to any of items
3-4, wherein communicating (S110), between the wireless device and
the network node, control signalling indicative of switching of one
of the antenna panels comprises transmitting (S110B), to the
network node, control signalling indicating to the network node
that the wireless device intends to switch the one antenna panel
from the first mode to the second mode. Item 7. The method
according to any of items 3-6, wherein the control signalling
indicative of switching indicates a time period and wherein the
method comprises performing an additional switching of the one
antenna panel in response to expiry of the time period. Item 8. A
method, performed at a network node, wherein the network node is
configured to communicate with a wireless device via one or more
antenna panels of the wireless device, the method comprising:
[0096] receiving (S202), from the wireless device, control
signalling indicative of a capability, the capability comprising at
least one of: a receive-only panel, ROP, capability, a
transmit-only panel, TOP, capability, a receive-and-transmit panel,
RTP, capability and a dynamic RTP capability; and [0097] scheduling
(S204) transmission of the wireless device based on the capability
indicated by the received control signalling. Item 9. The method
according to item 8, the method comprising: [0098] selecting
(S206), based on the capability indicated, one or more antenna
panels to activate, [0099] transmitting (S207), to the wireless
device, control signalling indicative of the selected one or more
antenna panels. Item 10. The method according to any of items 8-9,
the method comprising: [0100] communicating (S208), between the
wireless device and the network node, control signalling indicative
of switching of one of the antenna panels having a dynamic RTP
capability from a first mode to a second mode, [0101] wherein the
first mode comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode, and RTP mode,
wherein the second mode comprises one of: a ROP mode, a TOP mode,
and RTP mode. Item 11. The method according to item 10, wherein
communicating (S208), between the wireless device and the network
node, control signalling indicative of switching of one of the
antenna panels comprises transmitting (S208A) to the wireless
device, control signalling instructing the wireless device to
switch the indicated antenna panel having a dynamic RTP capability
from the first mode to the second mode. Item 12. The method
according to item 10, wherein communicating (S208), between the
wireless device and the network node, control signalling indicative
of switching of one of the antenna panels comprises receiving
(S208B), from the wireless device, control signalling indicating to
the network node that the wireless device intends to switch the one
antenna panel from the first mode to the second mode. Item 13. The
method according to any of items 8-12, the method comprising:
[0102] selecting (S210), based on the capability indicated and
received quality metrics per antenna panels, one or more antenna
panels for communication. Item 14. The method according to any of
items 8-13, wherein scheduling (S204) transmission of the wireless
device based on the capability indicated by the received control
signalling comprises scheduling (S204A) an uplink transmission for
an antenna panel having at least one of: the TOP capability, the
RTP capability and the dynamic RTP capability. Item 15. The method
according to any of items 8-14, wherein scheduling (S204)
transmission of the wireless device based on the capability
indicated by the received control signalling comprises scheduling
(S204B) a downlink transmission for an antenna panel having at
least one of: the ROP capability, the RTP capability and the
dynamic RTP capability. Item 16. A wireless device comprising a
memory module, a processor module, and a wireless interface,
wherein the wireless device is configured to perform any of the
methods according to any of items 1-7. Item 17. A network node
comprising a memory module, a processor module, and a wireless
interface, wherein the network node is configured to perform any of
the methods according to any of items 8-15.
[0103] The use of the terms "first", "second", "third" and
"fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. does not imply
any particular order, but are included to identify individual
elements. Moreover, the use of the terms "first", "second", "third"
and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. does not
denote any order or importance, but rather the terms "first",
"second", "third" and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary"
etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that
the words "first", "second", "third" and "fourth", "primary",
"secondary", "tertiary" etc. are used here and elsewhere for
labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific
spatial or temporal ordering. Furthermore, the labelling of a first
element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice
versa.
[0104] It may be appreciated that FIGS. 1A-6 comprises some
circuitries or operations which are illustrated with a solid line
and some circuitries or operations which are illustrated with a
dashed line. The circuitries or operations which are comprised in a
solid line are circuitries or operations which are comprised in the
broadest example embodiment. The circuitries or operations which
are comprised in a dashed line are example embodiments which may be
comprised in, or a part of, or are further circuitries or
operations which may be taken in addition to the circuitries or
operations of the solid line example embodiments. It should be
appreciated that these operations need not be performed in order
presented. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that not all of
the operations need to be performed. The exemplary operations may
be performed in any order and in any combination.
[0105] It is to be noted that the word "comprising" does not
necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than
those listed.
[0106] It is to be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an
element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such
elements.
[0107] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not
limit the scope of the claims, that the exemplary embodiments may
be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and
software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be
represented by the same item of hardware.
[0108] The various exemplary methods, devices, nodes and systems
described herein are described in the general context of method
steps or processes, which may be implemented in one aspect by a
computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium,
including computer-executable instructions, such as program code,
executed by computers in networked environments. A
computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable
storage devices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory
(ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital
versatile discs (DVD), etc. Generally, program circuitries may
include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,
etc. that perform specified tasks or implement specific abstract
data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data
structures, and program circuitries represent examples of program
code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The
particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated
data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for
implementing the functions described in such steps or
processes.
[0109] Although features have been shown and described, it will be
understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed
disclosure, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the claimed disclosure. The
specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an
illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed disclosure
is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents.
* * * * *